Also today is my birthday (yay) and thanks to my fiancee I have a shiny new Digital SLR with which to snap these photos. Soul Caliber IV is the first game to get photographed by the new tech… enjoy.

Alone in the Dark (SteelBook Edition):
The first case is the European SteelBook Edition of Alone in the Dark for PC. This version is available in Europe for all the platforms of which the game will be release it’s no different than the regular edition of the game save the fact that it comes in much more suitable clothing. I particularly like the image on the interior of the case, possibly one of my favorite SteelBook interiors that I’ve seen yet.

Indiana Jones the Adventure Collection:
This next case isn’t for a game but a single SteelBook that can hold all 3 discs of the original Indiana Jones movie trilogy. Note that on the left of the inside of the case there are raised tabs to hold a booklet. The design here is simple but I really like the cover art, it has somewhat of a comic book quality to it and the contrast of the smooth white background to the rough imagery make it pop in a way that really couldn’t have been accomplished on anything but a metal case.

Battlefield: Bad Company Gold Edition:
Battlefield: Bad Company is arguably the most anticipated shooter this quarter and with the Gold Edition receiving in-game content as a bonus it has become one of the more anticipated “Editions” this year. While North America received a Gold Edition with packaging that was little more than a cheap cardboard sleeve shoved over a standard keep case, Europe was treated to a SteelBook version of the same case. Having both version of the case available comparing them becomes trivial and the stark contrasts in quality is immediately apparent. This wasn’t the first case to get this kind of comparison, John Woo’s Stranglehold also received a SteelBook in Europe and a keep case in North America, check out my first SteelBook article for that comparison.

I should also point out that after having the North American Gold Edition in my posession for a little less than 6 hours, and just from being in a bag with a few other items the slip cover it suffered two major creases. I’ve yet to have the problem with any SteelBook, nor do I expect to ever see it happen less I start handling it exclusivly with plyers…. and even then I’d have to be exceptionally rough.

I’m sure this will be a rare item since not even Gamestop/EB themselves recognized that the pre-order bonus would be a unique edition and not just a separate item. There is additional Pre-order content that is still coming but apparently there was a delay in production so it wasn’t ready to ship with the game.

Also I would be remis if I didn’t mention the fact that Europe got two different editions of this game. A really nice big box package exclusive to GAME in the UK (pictures are availble thanks to grim_d) the rest of Europe didn’t get any bonus content but they were treated to a SteelBook version of the game… the lucky bastards.

The Gold Edition includes 5 in-game weapons, one per kit, each with  its own characteristics. Really these are nothing more than weapons that would otherwise be unlocked at 25 simply unlocked right from the beginning.

Also on the disc is a behind the scenes “making of” documentary and eight multi-player strategy videos. In addition to the special game disc there is also a Battlefield: Bad Company poster.

North Americans get a standard keep case with a shiny cardboard slip cover, meanwhile European Gamers are treated to a SteelBook case for their Gold Edition. Check out the lined pages below for pictures and additional info.

Transformers Autobots and Decepticons:

Dragon Ball Z:

Battle Star Galactica:
This one is rather interesting since it shows off the ability for SteelBooks to hold as many as 6 discs.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition Blu-Ray Disc:
I’m not entirely sure which (if any) region this case was intended for but it is unlike the Limited edition bonus disc packaging I’ve seen for the US, UK, and European version of the MGS4 LE. One thing is for sure though, it’s dead sexy.

Thanks for hanging in there.

I’d like to offer an update to the whole debacle, yet I’m sure this will incense those of us who purchased the Special Edition.

As a result of ADV’s recent distribution arrangement shifting away from direct customer fulfillment to third-party fulfillment through RightStuf International, the new distributor has taken it upon themselves to offer the actual cases at an additional charge of $3.99 instead of supplying a redemption form.

Why this is being done instead of supplying the cases at no additional charge with proof of purchase is upsetting to me, as one would think that the additional cost of the Collector’s Edition covered the future costs of production related to the actual cases.

Not only that, it shafts those that imported this game as it is only for US residents.

RightStuf Devil May Cry DVD Case Offer Page

This news is quite bittersweet, while the issue has been resolved it’s no where close to the resolution anyone was hoping for. Perhaps most aggravating is that there was no official apology nor so much as an email sent to those patrons who had contacted ADV over this issue.

The Right Stuf International (TRSI) is, for the most part, quite an honorable company. It’s pleasing to see that they’re actually making these cases available even if it is at a small fee.

What you may not have realized is that on page 34 of the Instruction Manual included with the game is an offer for a full sized case to accompany your Animated Series Volume 1 disc. The reason they didn’t include the case with the game was that the cases apparently weren’t ready when the game was getting produced, so they opted for a cheaper cardboard wallet with the option to upgrade once the REAL cases were available later. In addition to the case gamers were also to receive a coupon good towards the purchase of Volume 2 as thank you for putting up with the crappy cardboard wallet.

If you read page 34 of the disc they don’t give you a form to fill out or some postcard to send in. Instead they instruct you to visit ADV Films’ website and find a forum to fill out to redeem your case. Unfortunately there is no forum on their website, nor is there mention of the Devil May Cry animated series AT ALL. Even visiting the url for the Devil May Cry TV website, which is listed on the game packaging in several locations turns up empty pages.

Apparently the Devil May Cry series was under threat of getting canceled, and because of that ADV pulled all mention of the series from their website before the Game or the Anime’s release. The dedicated page for the Series is still up, but it’s little more than a “coming soon” placeholder.

Despite the fate of the series coming into question everything was worked out and Volume 2 was delayed a bit. If you want further proof that everything is worked out just walk into any store where Anime is sold and you should see Volume 2 sitting happily on the shelf waiting for your dollars. That is if it isn’t already sold out. See, to make matters even more interesting the Devil May Cry Animated Series has so far been the best selling Anime of 2008 despite all of the licensing issues and the fact that ADV Films is pretending that they have nothing to do with it, no advertising, and no mention of it on their website, it still managed to sell better than anything else on the market, and then of course in response to the overwhelming support for the series they decide to take a dump on their loyal customers … and Anime publishers wonder why they have trouble turning profits.

Back in February I signed up for ADV’s mailing list and I also emailed them asking about the forum to sign up for the case, this is the response I received:

Hello,
Thank you for emailing ADV, currently our site is under construction. We will have a place for you to input your information and submit your shipping for the Devil May Cry box shortly. With this box we will include a coupon code for you to use on our site towards the purchase of volume 2. We are sorry for the delay and appreciate your
patience in this matter.

Thank you again,
ADV Customer Service

It has now been two months since I received that email, ADV has ignored further inquiries and Volume 2 has already been released. I’ve been doing freelance web development for over a decade, I do it in my spare time and I’m by no means a pro, in a single afternoon I could easily whip up a professional looking form that collects, verifies sanitizes and saves shipping info to a database, heck there are dozens of free pre-written scripts out there that do just that already. There’s no reason that ADV couldn’t have something up TODAY to start making things right.

I propose that if you bought the Collector’s Edition game, that you boycott the purchase of Volume 2 until ADV Films makes good on their promise of a case for Volume 1. It was shady of them to not include the case with the game in the first place, it was shady of them to hide the redemption offer in the instruction manual, it was shady of them to not have any mention on their website about it, and it’s shady of them to ignore a majority of the emails they’ve received on the subject hiding behind a supposed website redesign as an excuse.

We’ve been patient, but if they can’t so much as make a press-release apologizing for this situation then this company obviously isn’t deserving of your money.